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Sodium and health : old myths and a controversy based on denial

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Cappuccio, Francesco P., Campbell, Norm R. C., He, Feng J., Jacobson, Michael F., MacGregor, Graham A., Antman, Elliott, Appel, Lawrence J., Arcand, JoAnne, Blanco-Metzler, Adriana, Cook, Nancy R. et al.
(2022) Sodium and health : old myths and a controversy based on denial. Current Nutrition Reports, 11 . pp. 172-184. doi:10.1007/s13668-021-00383-z

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13668-021-00383-z

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Abstract

Purpose of Review:
The scientific consensus on which global health organizations base public health policies is that high sodium intake increases blood pressure (BP) in a linear fashion contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A moderate reduction in sodium intake to 2000 mg per day helps ensure that BP remains at a healthy level to reduce the burden of CVD.

Recent Findings:
Yet, since as long ago as 1988, and more recently in eight articles published in the European Heart Journal in 2020 and 2021, some researchers have propagated a myth that reducing sodium does not consistently reduce CVD but rather that lower sodium might increase the risk of CVD. These claims are not well-founded and support some food and beverage industry’s vested interests in the use of excessive amounts of salt to preserve food, enhance taste, and increase thirst. Nevertheless, some researchers, often with funding from the food industry, continue to publish such claims without addressing the numerous objections. This article analyzes the eight articles as a case study, summarizes misleading claims, their objections, and it offers possible reasons for such claims.

Summary:
Our study calls upon journal editors to ensure that unfounded claims about sodium intake be rigorously challenged by independent reviewers before publication; to avoid editorial writers who have been co-authors with the subject paper’s authors; to require statements of conflict of interest; and to ensure that their pages are used only by those who seek to advance knowledge by engaging in the scientific method and its collegial pursuit. The public interest in the prevention and treatment of disease requires no less.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
T Technology > TN Mining engineering. Metallurgy
T Technology > TX Home economics
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Human beings -- Effect of salt on, Salt, Sodium, Medical policy, Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Prevention, Diet, Nutrition
Journal or Publication Title: Current Nutrition Reports
Publisher: Springer
ISSN: 2161-3311
Official Date: June 2022
Dates:
DateEvent
June 2022Published
14 February 2022Available
20 October 2021Accepted
Volume: 11
Number of Pages: 13
Page Range: pp. 172-184
DOI: 10.1007/s13668-021-00383-z
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
UNSPECIFIEDNational Institute for Health Researchhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272
UNSPECIFIEDMedical Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265

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